The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Leeds, West Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP receives positive reviews for its ‘excellent all-round service’. A choice firm for mid-tier work, it is increasingly involved in international deals. Practice head Kevin Cunningham divides his time between Leeds and Sheffield, and is ‘clear, concise, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with’.

Within Corporate and commercial: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s corporate offering in Sheffield includes Laurence Gavin, who is ‘very commercial and always helpful’, and James Bullock, who is ‘concise and knowledgeable’. The team ‘provides a good all-round service’, and was recently instructed by IVRCL Infrastructures and Projects on its acquisition of DavyMarkham.

Within Crime, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

The ‘thorough and expeditious’ team at Irwin Mitchell LLP, led by the ‘congenial and experienced’ Paul Haycock and the ‘great’ Dan Stowers, advises on complex criminal and serious fraud cases, and provides a ‘Rolls-Royce’ service to its clients. The team recently advised on a high-profile theft case as well as handling a number of SFO investigations.

Within Commercial litigation: Leeds, West Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP has an impressive practice, led by well-respected practitioner Nick Bates. Recent work includes defending freezing orders and underlying claims for millions of pounds of damages relating to a dispute between a then Premier League football club and its former chairman.

Within Commercial litigation: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP has a particularly strong presence in finance and real estate. The Sheffield team works alongside colleagues in Leeds, and is headed by Nick Bates. Recent highlights include defending freezing orders and underlying claims for damages in a dispute between a then Premier League Football Club and its former chairman.

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s team is led by James Bullock, a ‘valued business partner’ who is ‘excellent at finding solutions in an efficient manner’. Recent mandates include acting for Clydesdale on the £16m funding of a major property development.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, tier 4

At Irwin Mitchell LLP, ‘the service is excellent’ and the team has ‘a commercial, client-focused approach’. In 2010 it advised Begbies Traynor on the interaction of Scottish insolvency rules with English rules. Joint national practice head Andrew Walker is ‘very precise, erudite and easy to work with’.

Within Employment: South Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s team counts the Association of Educational Psychologists and Thorntons as key clients. Kelly Pattison joined the team from HLW Commercial Lawyers LLP.

Within Employment: West Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

Matthew Brain leads the ‘high-quality’ Irwin Mitchell LLP team, which in 2010 advised Dr Oetker UK and Capita on TUPE matters.

Within Pensions, tier 5

The ‘good’ team at Irwin Mitchell LLP continues to advise a number of scheme trustees including the Dyson Group pension fund.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

In 2010 the team at Irwin Mitchell LLP, led by David Body, acted in major epilepsy-related litigation, representing over 100 children. The Sheffield office is also home to a special damages team, led by Karen Codling.

Within Personal injury: claimant , Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

The ‘very professional and knowledgeable’ team at Irwin Mitchell LLP is very well regarded for its experience handling spinal and brain injury claims. Jane Wright heads the team in Leeds, which was bolstered in January 2011 by the arrival of Mark Tempest from Hempsons. Associate Martha Sweet is ‘tenacious, determined and bright.’ The team in Sheffield, led by Adrian Budgen, has a specialist armed forces injury team and advised on asbestos and road traffic claims in 2010. Neil Whiteley is a ‘very good technical lawyer’.

Within Professional negligence: claimant, Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s ‘excellent’ team advises on claims against solicitors, particularly in the personal injury field. Cathryn Selby is ‘very knowledgeable on financial services matters’ and heads the team, which is recognised for its proficiency in tax, financial services and lenders’ claims.

Within Regional review, Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

Outside of the ‘Big 6’, key players include Irwin Mitchell LLP, a go-to firm for personal injury and clinical negligence; and Sheffield-based Nabarro LLP, which is renowned for its real estate expertise, and enjoys a leading reputation for commercial litigation and employment.

Within Charities, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP advises clients including the Sheffield City Trust and the subsidiary charities of Newham College of Education. It also advises a number of universities and medical charities.

Within Family: Leeds and West Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

The family practice at Irwin Mitchell LLP deals with complex financial cases, often with an international element. It has also provides niche advice on same-sex relationships. Peter Morris heads the team in Leeds.

Within Family: North, South and East Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

The ‘very good’ five-fee-earner team at Irwin Mitchell LLP is led by the ‘very experienced and pragmatic’ Martin Loxley. It dealt with a number of pre-nuptial requests in 2010, and regularly advises high-net-worth individuals.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s ‘tenacious’ team, led by Craig Marshall, is instructed by a number of major international financial institutions including Barclays and HSBC. It was also instructed by Mandy Tennant in her high-profile fight to gain reasonable financial provision from her late husband’s estate.

Within Education, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s team, led by Michael Longden, counts Sheffield Hallam University as a key client, and was recently instructed to advise on its regeneration.

Within Local government, Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s ‘excellent’ team, led by the ‘supportive and knowledgeable’ Michael Longden and Laurence Gavin, is currently acting for the Northern Grid for Learning Trust and the East of England Broadband Network.

Within Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s well-respected practice recently represented Hallam Land/Henry Boot in relation to a new mixed-use development at Bridgwater in Somerset. Practice head John Flathers is ‘an invaluable legal adviser’.

Within Commercial property: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s ‘wonderful team’ provides a ‘fantastic service’. It is led by Kevin Docherty, who is ‘wise’ and ‘a good leader’, and now includes the highly regarded Paul Firth, who joined from DLA Piper UK LLP. It acted for Hallam Land Management on a complex development project, advising on issues such as site acquisition and assembly and obtaining planning permission.

Within Property litigation Property litigation

Within Intellectual property , Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP handles complex, high-value matters for a wide range of international clients. Joanne Bone advised Amefa UK on its trade mark portfolio in 2010, and HD Sports is another client.

Within IT and telecoms, Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

The ‘very good’ team at Irwin Mitchell LLP, headed by Joanne Bone, advised a major Yorkshire plc on a broadband arrangement in 2010, and regularly advises on IT procurement. It also recently advised a leading, privately owned petroleum company. Associate Helen Goldthorpe is also recommended.

Within Sport, tier 4

Irwin Mitchell LLP counts Sheffield FC and Sheffield Wednesday FC as clients.